Walkinshaw on the mend

Invercargill harness driver Shane Walkinshaw is at home recuperating after a nasty accident at Ascot Park last Friday.

The incident happened shortly after the horses left the mobile arm from the 2200 metre start point and headed into the first bend. Walkinshaw's drive Jennys Rose, went down on her nose and he was thrown onto the track. He suffered fractures to the skull, eye socket, cheek bone and a sinus fracture around the nose area.    

"I don't remember when the mobile left, the crash or being in the ambulance. The next memory I've got is waking up in hospital," said Walkinshaw who was discharged from Kew Hospitial yesterday.

He says the specialists are recommending at least a month off work. 

"Definitely a month off work and a month off driving. I'm not too stressed about rushing back to it. Once you get a head injury it wakes you up a wee bit and you think about things a bit more. I did my spleen about ten years ago at Rangiora and I was meant to have six weeks off but I was back driving in four weeks. This is a wee bit different."

Meanwhile Jennys Rose has been retired from racing. 

"Wayne (trainer Wayne Adams) and the owner have pulled the pin on her now. I said to Wayne when he came into hospital 'did I chase her (out of the gate) or do something wrong?' He said no, she just slotted over good. You can see it on the video, she just dropped for no reason really. Apparently Blair Orange reckons she crossed her legs. When they start doing that they're pretty dangerous."

The other two drivers caught up in the fallout – Craig Ferguson and Dexter Dunn were uninjured.

Craig Ferguson going over the top, with Shane Walkinshaw underneath his own horse Number 6.
Dexter Dunn holding on tight to his charge Number 10.

Bruce Stewart
Southern Harness Racing